Brandon violates probation weeks after release from jail

ZANESVILLE - Three weeks after she was released from jail, Tiea R. Brandon violated her probation.

Brandon, 33, of Zanesville, previously pleaded guilty in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court to possession of drugs (cocaine), fourth-degree felony, and attempted engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a third-degree felony.

She was sentenced on Sept. 25 to three years of probation and ordered to complete the Power Court program.

On Oct. 13, Brandon tested positive for cocaine. Earlier, she admitted to using non-prescription pills, according to testimony by Pamela Wells-Exline, adult probation officer, during a hearing this week. Brandon was also terminated from Power Court.

In the hearing, Brandon told the judge she didn't use drugs.

"I was around it, but I didn't use it," she said. "I'm willing to take a polygraph."

Judge Kelly Cottrill pointed out that the lab confirmed her drug use.

A few minutes later, she apologized for messing up and admitted that she used cocaine.

So, Cottrill asked, she lied earlier?

"I didn't want to admit to it," she said.

Brandon was going to need to change her behavior if she was going to be successful in any programs, Cottrill said.

"You hardly went any time at all without using, did you?" Cottrill said. "When you were out?"